Oscillating rail for work-immersion machines



L 1953 J. v. DAVIS ET AL 2,650,904

OSCILLATING RAIL FOR WORK-IMMERSION MACHINES Filed Deo. l5', 1949 'a'. Sheets-Sheet l 111'? m. INVENTOR5.

Jo N V. DAW 1)/ Ls-IN J. PIANgLuSKII By @name u cmm..

Sept. 1, 1953 J. V. DAVIS ET AL OSCILLATING RAIL FOR WORK-IMMERSION MACHINES Filed Dec. l5, 1949 3 Sheets-shewA 2 OSCILLATING RAIL FOR WORK-IMMERSION MACHINES Filed Dec. 15, 1949 Sept. 1, 1953 J. v. DAvls ET AL 3 Sheets-Shree?I 5 INVENTORS. Joh/N v. DAV/5- 60N J. PlANowsKl- CHARLES w. cmu..

BY WZ romvey,

Patented Sept. 1, 1953 OSCILLATING RAIL FOR WORK-IMll/IERSION MACHINES John V. Davis, Charles W. Chill, and Leon J. Pianowski, Detroit, Mich., assignors to The Udylite Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 1-5, 1949, Serial No. 133,121

(Cl. 21M- 222) 2 Claims. 1

The present invention pertains to a novel work-carrying rail adapted for longitudinal os cillation in a machine or apparatus in which work suspended from the rail is treated in a liquid bath, as in a plating machine.

The purpose of oscillating the rail is to cause the work to agitate the solution. 1n a plating machine, for example, the agitation washes the bubbles o the work and thereby increases the rate of plating at a given amperage.

In prior apparatus of this character wherein less than the entire rail is oscillated 1ongitudinally, a separation in the rail and an interruption in the work path occurs at each end of the oscillating section. A modern plating machine includes a series of tanks, and the work is lifted in order to be transferred from one tank to the next, for example, by lifting a section of rail with the work thereon as disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,479,322 of August 16, 1949. Prior to the present invention it was not possible to have a travel of work at or near a separation produced by an oscillating rail section, although travel in this region may have been desirable during oscillation.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an oscillating rail section that produces no separation at its ends in the rail system and no interruption in the work path.

Another object of the invention incidental thereto is the provision of an oscillating rail section that permits transfer of the work at its ends if desired.

Still another object is to provide such an apparatus wherein electrical contact is maintained between the oscillating section and the adjacent section or sections without auxiliary conducting means.

In the accomplishment of these objects, the oscillating section has a sliding t at both ends into the adjacent sections, which remain :Xed both horizontally and vertically. The sliding t may be in the nature of a spline or a telescopic joint and is so dimensioned that the oscillating section does not separate from the xed sections at any time. The xed sections may be alined with vertically movable transfer sections as in the aforementioned patent. Since the xed sections need be only long enough to maintain the sliding joint, a transfer of work may be accomplished close to the oscillating section. Normal travel of Work is of course possible at the sliding joints during oscillation in keeping with the principal object of the invention.

Where a spline joint is used, it is formed by cutting parallel slots through the joined ends of the rail sections to form parallel fingers. The joint is assembled with the slots or ngers lying in vertical planes, to provide smooth travel of the work hook from one section to another.

In the case of a telescopic joint, a compressed coil spring is inserted between the joint sections. This spring moves the oscillating section in one direction and also serves as a conductor of current between the joint sections to eliminate the need of a jumper.

in some installations the rail is in an elongated U-shape to bring the loading and unloading stations closely adjacent to each other. The invention may be embodied to such an installa-f tion as a special case by providing the bent por" tion of the rail as a separate U-shape section with its ends slidably joined to the straightaway parts of the rail in the manner described.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of eX- ample in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation on the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line t--l of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line @-li of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a modiiied construction;

Figure 6 is a section on the line @-E of Fig ure 5;

Figure 7 is a plan View of another modi'cation;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a modified form oi apparatus;

Figure 9 is a plan view of another modifica-1 tion;

Figures l0, 11 and 12 are sections on the lines Ill-l0, ll--I i, and l2-l2 of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is a plan section of another modication, and

Figure 14 is a section on the line Ii-ii of Figure 13.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 is shown a conventional progrea sive plating tank I having partitions and 3 forming compartments 4, E and il. A work rail is supported over and along the tank in any suitable manner, for example, as shown in my Patent No. 2,479,322 and consists of several alined sections.

It may be assumed that a vertically movable transfer section l lies over the compartment fi and crosses the partition 2, the vertical move-1 ment being accomplished as shown in said patent. Adjacent thereto is a stationary rail section having a groove 9 receiving the pointed end I@ of the section 'I in vertical movement. Next to the section "5 `is an oscillating section H which comprises an element of this invention and is described in detail below. It may be noted that the section II is secured upon transverse supw porting bars I2 carrying rollers -IB that vride on the longitudinal edges of the tank i.

Next to the oscillating section I I is another stationary section I4 having a'vertical notch I5 receiving a vertically movable transfer section I6 at a pointed end I1 of thelatter. The section H5 crosses the partition 3 and has its other end pointed at 8 to join an adjacent stationary section I 9 at a notch 26 in the latter.

Both ends of the oscillating section 'II are formed with closely spaced parallel slots 2l preferably by milling, leaving slots and parallel fingers 22. The adjacent ends of the sections 8 and I4 are similarly slotted at 23 to form fingers 2d. The fingers 22 are received slidably in the slots 23, and the fingers 24 in the slots ZI. The overall length of the section I I, including the fingers, is greater than the minimum distance between the sections 8 and i4 or less than the distance between `their respective finger tips. However, the overall length of the section i is less than the unslotted portions of the sections 3 and I4. The section Ii can therefore be oscillated in the slots 23 without at any time coming out of contact with the fingers 24. For convenience this permanent joint istermed a spline joint.

Work is suspended from the rail by conventional hooks 25 which are moved along the rail by suitable means such as that disclosed in the aforementioned patent. On oscillation of the section tI, the work suspended therefrom will agitate the solution in which it is immersed. A four inch-stroke of the oscillating section is adequate in many cases.

An illustrative means for oscillating the section H is shown in Figure 1. A base plate 36 is secured to a side of the tank I for supporting a gear box 3 I. On the output shaft 32 of the box is secured a crank 33 having a slot 34. A connecting rod 35 has one end mounted in the slot. A plate 38 joins the bars I2 and carries a bearing 31 to which the other end of the rod 35 is pivotally attached.

Transfer of the work over the partitions 2 and 3 is effected on lifting the sections 1 and I6 respectively by suitable means such as disclosed in the aforementioned patent. By shortening the up slotted portions of `the sections 8 and I4, transfer may be effective close to the ends of the oscillating section II if desired.

The rail is preferably assembled so that the larger surfaces of the fingers 22 and 24 lie in vertical planes. Thus, the work hook slides smoothly from one section to the next, on the edges of the fingers, which lie in the same arc. There is sufiicient surface Contact so that no jumpers are necessary between the oscillating section and the adjacent xed sections.

In Figure 5 is shown a modified form of spline joint. In other respects the construction and operation are as shown in the preceding figures. The oscillating rail section 4I is formed at both ends with parallel slots 42, preferably by milling, to provide flat fingers 43 except that the outer fingers have convex outer surfaces. The adjacent ends of the adjoining fixed sections 45 are similarly slotted at 46 and relieved to receive 4 the fingers 44 of the section 4I. The slots 46 form fingers 48 that are slidably received in the recess 42, and similarly the fingers 43 are received in the spaces 46. The length of the section 4I is such that its fingers remain in contact with the fingers 48 of both sections 45 during the entire oscillation. The Yremote ends of the sections 45 are notched vertically at 49 for engagement with vertically movable transfer sections in the manner previously described.

The construction shown in Figures 7 to 8 einbodies telescopic rather than slotted sections. One of the fixed sections 56 is provided with a reduced end 5I which may be turned or inserted and vheld :by across pin 52. The oscillating section 53 has a tubular end 54 which receives the end 5I telescopically. The tubular end 54 may either be bored or provided as a separate tube fitted on a reduced end piece 55 of the section 53 and secured by a cross pin 56.

The'reduced end portion 5I is surrounded by a conducting coil spring 51 consisting of a suitable material such as Phosphor bronze. The ends of the spring bear 'against the extremities of the section 56 rand the tubular end 54. The section 53 is oscillated by a suitable means such as that previously described. As this section is moved toward the section 56, the spring 51 is compressed and stores up energy for the return stroke. The length of the stroke is less than the available length of the tubular portion 54, so that the reduced portion 5I Valways remains therein. The spring 51 is under compression even during the maximum spacing of the parts 56 and 54 and that maintains Agood electrical contact between them, so that juniper 'is necessary.

The remaining oscillating 'section 53 is also reduced at 58 to 'enter an adjacent fixed section 59. The latter is formed with a vertical notch 6I] to receive anadjacent vertically movable transfer section.

Figure 8 shows the invention applied to a rail of the endless type or one'that is open at one end to bring the loading and unloading stations in juxtaposition. In such installations it is often desirable to oscillate the U-shape bend portion 6I that joins the straightaway portion 62. For convenience a telescopic joint is shown although either of the other disclosed types may be used. The ends of the bend `II `are reduced at 63 and are received slidably in the adjacent tubular ends 64 of the straightaway portions 62. The portion 6I is oscillated by a suitable mechanism, similar to that previously described, designated diagrammatically at 65 and mounted on the adjacent end of the tank 66. Each reduced end 63 is surrounded by a permanently compressed and electrically conducting coil spring 66 that maintains contact between the parts VISI and 62 without the need of a jumper. The Strokepart 6I is such that its reduced ends 63 always remain in the tubular ends 64 of the sections 62. The broad concept of a sliding connection between the oscillating section and the adjacent sections, in any `embodiment is identified in the claims as a slip joint.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 to 1'2, one of the relatively slidable rail members 65 is of round stock and has an extended reduced end 66. At a distance from the smaller extremity, the surface of the member 65 is formed with a series of longitudinal and arcuate slots .61 that leave intervening fingers 68. The slotted Aportion may, if desired, be originally a .tubular member with the reduced portion 66 fitted therein as a plug.

The complementary member B9 is tubular and slidably fitted on the reduced portion 96. The member 69 is slotted longitudinally at 'l to receive the fingers 68 which are more in the nature of true splines. The elongated segments ll that remain between the slots 1|) are slidably received in the slots 97 of the member 65.

The outer end of the member 95 is formed With a vertical V-groove 'l2 forming a joint with a non-sliding rail section 13 which has a V-end 14. The section 'I3 may be vertically movable as previously set forth. Another rail section is attached to the outer end of the section 69, as by means of a reduced end l@ inserted in the member 69 and secured therein by a pin 11. The remote end of the section '15 may be in sliding engagement with another rail section which in turn may join with a vertically movable section in the manner previously described.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate a modication of the constructions of Figures 1 and 5 wherein the slots extend entirely through the rail sections to form slot fingers. Instead, the fingers here consist of separate nat strips or laminations suitably secured together in spaced relation. For example, one of the rail sections 88 is tubular at one end as indicated by the numeral 8|. In this end are received flat strips or laminations 82 held in spaced relation by spacers 83 lying entirely in the cavity 8l. 'This assembly is secured to the member 89 by a pin 84, while the strips 82 extend considerably beyond the hollow end of the member 80.

The complementary rail section 85 has a similar tubular end 86. This end also receives strips or laminations 8l arranged to alternate with the members 82. The members 81 are spaced apart by spacers 88 inserted between them and lying entirely within the rail 85, while the entire assembly is secured by a pin 89. The laminations and spacers may consist of copper or other good conducting metal, and the sections 89 and 85 also consist of a good conductor. It will be understood also that the metal employed in the previously described embodiments is selected for the desired conductivity.

Although specic embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A rail for work-conveying machines comprising a xed section and an axially alined slidable section, the meeting ends of said sections having vertical lengthwise slots forming vertical ngers, the lingers of each section being slidably received in the slots of the other section, thereby forming lengthwise sliding joints, means for oscillating the slidable section longitudinally, the uppermost outer surfaces of said sections being of like contour and continuous with each other throughout the length of said sections and at their joints, whereby a member suspended from either section may be slid smoothly to the other section without vertical or lateral displacement.

2. A rail for work-conveying machine comprising a iiXed section and an axially alined slidable section, the meeting ends of said sections having vertical lengthwise slots forming vertical iingers, the fingers of each section being slidably received in the slots of the other section, thereby forming lengthwise sliding joints, means for oscillating the slidable section longitudinally, the uppermost outer surfaces of said sections being of like contour and continuous with each other throughout the length of said sections and at their joints, whereby a member suspended from either section may be slid smoothly to the other section without vertical or lateral displacement, and a section mounted for vertical movement and separably joined to and alined with one of said fixed sections at the end thereof opposite the end to which said slidable section is joined.

, JOHN V. DAVIS.

CHARLES W. CHILL. LEON J. PIANOWSKI.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 273,735 Hoefer Mar. 13, 1883 887,539 Stevens May 12, 1908 977,020 Lakosky Nov. 29, 1910 1,145,338 Vanderhoof July 6, 1915 1,917,009 Betts July 4, 1933 2,274,422 Mahoney Feb. 24, 1942 2,280,728 Streib Apr. 21, 1942 2,284,941 Bergsma June 2, 1942 2,439,176 Mallard Apr. 6, 1948 2,479,322 Davis Aug. 16, 1949 2,497,768 Hallead Feb. 14, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,146 Great Britain May 22, 1909 

1. A RAIL FOR WORK-CONVEYING MACHINES COMPRISING A FIXED SECTION AND AN AXIALLY ALINED SLIDABLE SECTION, THE MEETING ENDS OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING VERTICAL LENGTHWISE SLOTS FORMING VERTICAL FINGERS, THE FINGERS OF EACH SECTION BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN THE SLOTS OF THE OTHER SECTION, THEREBY FORMING LENGTHWISE SLIDING JOINTS, MEANS FOR OSCILLATING THE SLIDABLE SECTION LONGITUDINALLY, THE UPPERMOST OUTER SURFACES OF SAID SECTIONS BEING OF LIKE CONTOUR AND CONTINUOUS WITH EACH OTHER THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID SECTIONS AND AT THEIR JOINTS, WHEREBY A MEMBER SUSPENDED FROM EITHER SECTION MAY BE SLID SMOOTHLY TO THE OTHER SECTION WITHOUT VERTICAL OR LATERAL DISPLACEMENT. 